Wis governor unofficially pardons Lake Geneva deer

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker has given an unofficial pardon to an orphaned deer the state had threatened to euthanize.

The Chicago Tribune reported the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently sent a letter to 49-year-old Marvin Graaf, of Lake Geneva. It asked him to surrender the deer so she can be euthanized since she’s tame and came from a chronic wasting disease area.

The deer was living on his farm for 15 months since her mother was hit by a car. Graaf nursed the then-fawn back to health and his ex-wife named her Charlotte.

Walworth County authorities charged Graaf with unauthorized taking of deer from wild, a misdemeanor. Graaf has a court hearing Wednesday.

DNR spokesman Bill Cosh said officials are discussing possibly sending Charlotte to a wildlife rehabilitation facility.